USDA Finalizes Poultry Inspection Modernization Rule

July 31, 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. – “I applaud Secretary Vilsack and the food safety professionals at the Food Safety and Inspection Service for moving forward with this rule to modernize our poultry inspection system in order to improve food safety – the top priority for our industry,” said National Chicken Council President Mike Brown in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture receiving the final rule on Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

USDA announced that the final rule is being sent to the Federal Register and plans to post the text on their at www.fsis.usda.gov/poultryinspection.

“We look forward to reviewing the contents of the final rule and working with the department and our members on proper implementation should our members choose to opt in to the new, voluntary system,” Brown added.

“Regarding line speeds: It is extremely unfortunate and disappointing that politics have trumped sound science, 15 years of food and worker safety data and a successful pilot program with plants operating at 175 birds per minute. The rule also goes against global precedent, in which the limiting factors for line speeds are the ability to meet food safety standards, keeping workers safe, and the capability of the equipment to run effectively – not government regulations. Broiler plants in Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Belgium and Germany, among others, all operate at line speeds of 200 or more birds per minute.”

For information about modernized U.S. chicken inspection, including what food safety experts say, visit www.chickeninspectionfacts.com.

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The National Chicken Council is the trade association, based in Washington, DC, for the companies that raise broiler chickens and make and market chicken products. Member companies of NCC provide about 95 percent of the chicken products on America’s table.